Negawatts for Sale

[jebatty]

A pro-conservation decision by the SCOTUS. Newgawatts The legal basis for this decision is straight-forward and has little to do with conservation. But the impact of the decision is significant in promoting conservation. BTW, our household has cut consumption by alot, and part of the cut has been aimed at peak periods.

 

[Where2]

My power company installed a demand response device on my A/C compressor unit many years ago. The incentive period runs April-October, at a value of up to $9 per month. The irony is that the load shedding from activating the demand response device is roughly equal to my PV array output at mid-day. My electric dryer actually creates a greater demand on the grid than my central A/C system, but they don't offer a load shedding device to go on the dryer, since it is connected to the wall with a plug. (shed loads must be hardwired devices).

 

[woodgeek]

I've got one on my HP/AC too. The funny part is that it is sized for winter heating (4 tons), even when it is 100°F or higher the unit only runs about a 50% cycle.
The demand control unit limits it to a 50% cycle, so it neither reduces my usage nor makes my house warmer.
But it pays $10/month in the summer.

 

[jebatty]

The irony is that the load shedding from activating the demand response device is roughly equal to my PV array output at mid-day. My electric dryer actually creates a greater demand on the grid than my central A/C system, but ....

Wouldn't the load shedding still serve the purpose? ... reduce peak demand and need for added peak power, and your PV is putting power into the grid to add to peak supply without the utility paying peak rates for the added power, and the utility might be able to charge for that PV power as peak power to another user, while under net metering, if you have it, the utility only paying you the net meter rate? Utility wins multiple times. But you are no worse off.

As to the electric dryer, mine is hard wired (240VAC) and I have to find out if it would qualify for load shedding. I have a separate meter and control that measures off-peak use and qualifies for an off-peak rate, about 1/2 the general rate. The "problem" would be for my wife, as off-peak power is only supplied from 11:00pm to 7:00am, and I'll have to talk to her and see if she would accept the dryer being available only at night. The electric dryer is our greatest demand appliance (other than the electric cook stove/oven). Our electric heat already is managed under the off-peak control.

I did contact the utility and inquired as to whether it would prefer if I voluntarily managed our electric use to shift usage to periods when the PV was producing to meet or exceed demand. It's reply was that it didn't care. I think residential PV at this time is such a small part of the utility power supply that it probably has no material effect.

 

[Where2]

Wouldn't the load shedding still serve the purpose? ... reduce peak demand and need for added peak power, and your PV is putting power into the grid to add to peak supply without the utility paying peak rates for the added power, and the utility might be able to charge for that PV power as peak power to another user, while under net metering, if you have it, the utility only paying you the net meter rate? Utility wins multiple times. But you are no worse off.

Of course, the aggregating load shedding devices serve a HUGE purpose, limiting the need to buy peak priced energy. The Utility wins multiple times: Exactly why the argument that PV users "don't pay their fair share for transmission line upkeep" doesn't float with me.

It's reply was that it didn't care. I think residential PV at this time is such a small part of the utility power supply that it probably has no material effect.

Indeed, an individual PV array or dryer load is such a minor blip on their energy map... I simply shift my weekend laundry routine to coincide with my PV array peak output on the weekends to limit the energy I send out in net metering. I need to get a solar thermal system setup to stop using the grid to generate my hot water...